The Most Expensive Gold Chains in the Rap & Hip Hop Game

Of course, celebrities are the people who have the illest fashion game because they’ve got the most money to blow and plenty of big-time, fancy events to attend and show off their expensive style. Even though we may not have Jay-Z kind of money, we can still look to him and other big-name rappers for inspiration on how to up our jewelry game and invest in new gold chains that show off personality, style, and success. Check out some of the most expensive chains in the hip hop world right now.

Most Expensive Hip Hop Gold Chains in the Game

1. Rick Ross

Coming in hot at the number one spot right now is our man Rick Ross. He secured a completely customized gold chain for $1.5 million that features a pendant of his own face. Ricky Ross has made a name for himself in the world of hip hop over the last two decades when he signed to Jay-Z’s label Def Jam Recordings. But, prior to his debut single with the label, he was a seriously hot commodity as a bidding war took place between P. Daddy’s Bad Boy Entertainment, Murder Inc. from Irv Gotti and Def Jam. 

Though he eventually decided to go with Jay-Z’s label, he later collaborated with Diddy on a number of projects. Eventually, Ross started his own label in 2009, Maybach Music Group, and now runs his own ventures along with owning 28 Wingstop restaurants across the country. We think he definitely deserves to splurge on that self-portrait of a chain.

2. Pharrell

Following close behind is Pharrell, who purchased a custom gold chain made by famous jeweler Jacob the Jeweler. This piece cost Pharell a cool $1 million but, to him, it was worth the high price, as he got to design a chain featuring members of his band N.E.R.D. that is absolutely covered in diamonds. Some believe that it is one of the best examples of iced-out jewelry, as Jacob the Jeweler delicately added different-colored diamonds to depict the band member’s outfits, expressions, and their own accessories. Talk about attention to detail. 

The chain itself is also covered in brightly colored diamonds, but it stands out from some of the other gold chains that made their way onto this list because of the fact that it’s a puff chain style necklace with oversized links. 

N.E.R.D. began as a side project for Pharrell and his two bandmates Chad Hugo and Shay Haley, but, later in his career, Pharrell re-adjusted his focus and wanted to spend more time on the group's unusual sound combination of rock, funk, and hip hop. Dishing out $1 million to commemorate his favorite passion project seems reasonable enough … when you’ve got Pharrell kinda money. 

3. Mike Jones

Although he may have fallen off the map in recent years, Mike Jones was a big deal in the early and mid-2000s, as reflected in his diamond-studded $1 million white gold chain engraved with the phrase “Ice Age.” What a perfect combination of pop culture references (reminder: Ice Age the movie was a big deal at the time) and a pun letting everybody know he was entering his own “Ice Age”—a period of success so great, he could afford to cover his accessories in diamonds. 

Also, it’s a bit of a head nod toward his own record label, Ice Age Entertainment. Interestingly enough, his $1 million chain, which featured over 100 carats of diamonds, was reportedly stolen out of his home by a friend, but, luckily, his insurance covered the expense. A good lesson in why you should keep your gold chains secured safely and invest in an insurance policy. 

4. Gucci Mane

Making his way to fame in the early 2000s, Gucci Mane is often credited with helping to create the genre of trap music, a popular subgenre of hip hop. A man with such a big claim to fame obviously deserves a chain equally as big, which is why he treated himself in 2017 to a dope white gold chain that hangs a bit longer than a choker and which features two opposing panthers. 

Honestly, this is one of the sickest chains we’ve ever seen, even if it doesn’t come close to the price tag of the previous three chains. At $500,000 and 165 carats, the panther chain features a total of 4,600 diamonds—1,800 on the panthers and 2,800 on the remainder of the chain. Talk about ice cold. 

5. Sean Kingston

In 2007, Sean Kingston stepped out to flex on everybody with a super dope and quite unusual iced-out chain that was designed to look like a Crayola crayon box, using other precious gemstones like emeralds and rubies to create an elaborately colorful pendant, which hung from a puff style chain. 

Unfortunately, Kingston only got to wear the chain a handful of times before it was stolen in the mail after his sister shipped it to a jeweler and mistakenly insured the package for a mere $500. Oops! That’ll teach you not to forget about the other three zeros.

6. Lil Jon

When Lil Jon first showed off his $500,000 “Crunk Ain’t Dead” gold chain in 2007, it was clear how much this dude loved his chain. And, honestly, so do we. It’s not the most complicated design, but it’s original and it fits Lil Jon’s persona, which is something we try to do with every piece we show off. Weighing a total of five pounds, the pendant is covered in a total of 3,756 diamonds and stands at eight inches tall. It’s so impressive that the Guinness Book of World Records named it the largest diamond pendant in the world.

Find The Perfect Gold Chain For Your Look

7. Soulja Boy

Soulja Boy’s time in the limelight was relatively short-lived (c’mon, that’s not too harsh, right?), but he said he made a name for himself—and he earned enough to dish out some serious dough on a $500,000 chain with a colorful image of the world and the phrase “The World is Yours.” A little nod to Nas, perhaps? 

Either way, this piece was beautifully crafted and attracted a whole lot of attention when he showed up wearing it to the 2009 BET Awards. He might not have walked out of there with an award that year, but he definitely still felt like he was at the top of the world walking around with half-a-million dollars on his neck. 

8. T-Pain

When T-Pain spent $410,000 on a gold chain, he decided to go big or go home. Literally. He invested in a gold chain that weighs over 10 pounds and simply reads “Big Ass Chain.” You ain’t kidding, bro. That is one big ass chain. A combination of yellow and white gold was used to create this hilarious masterpiece that also features 197 carats of diamonds. 

Although it’s not the most subtle design, we like the simplicity, but T-Pain later explained that he made the purchase after being dared by a friend and now he wonders if he should’ve invested so much money. Ay, pass it this way if you’re done with it, T-Pain!

9. Kanye West

Interestingly enough, this $300,000 gold chain is only one of two chains that made this list without featuring any diamonds. West decided to kick it old-school with a traditional gold chain featuring an image of the Egyptian god Horus. What wasn’t so traditional about the chain was that it was f***ing huge. Seriously! We have no idea how he was able to even stand with that giant chain hanging from his neck. Although it featured no diamonds, it was made from 24K gold—the purest quality of gold you can purchase.

10. Quavo

Even if you’re unfamiliar with Quavo (he’s the glasses-wearing Migos member), you’re definitely familiar with his gold-chain-featuring character Alfredo Linguine and his pet rat from the movie Ratatouille. Honestly, this is one of the most creative uses of custom jewelry we’ve ever seen. It’s relevant—everyone loves Ratatouille—and it ties back into his music career because it’s a direct reference to a line in a Migos song when Quavo says, “Call me Quavo Ratatouille.” 

But, there are some minor details that make this $250,000 chain even more special—the glasses on Alfredo Linguine, making him look more like Quavo, and the miniature QC pendant and chain on Linguine’s neck.  

11. Lil Uzi Vert

Another example of a truly unique gold chain design, Lil Uzi Vert has a $220,000 iced-out necklace featuring a chain with large spikes and an image of Marilyn Manson—someone Lil Uzi Vert has repeatedly named as a major influence on his music. 

The image itself is very interesting, as it really looks exactly like Manson with his Joker-like smile and signature Mickey-Mouse-ears hat. The chain itself is choker length, so that it fits tightly around the neck with large, thick spikes extending out from it and covered in diamonds. Honestly, we’re not messing with anyone who has a chain like this.

12. Jay-Z

Surprisingly, Jay-Z lands rather low on the list of hip hop stars with the most expensive chains, but who are we to judge? He still dropped $200,000 on this solid gold Cuban link chain that skips the diamonds altogether. Jay-Z is a man of class, so he wanted to skip the frills and get himself a gigantic gold chain with an old-school feel. This thing is ridiculous—it weighs in at 11 pounds and must be a workout to carry around all day. 

How to Get Chains Like These

We may find ourselves wistfully wishing we could afford our own “Big Ass Chain” or customized Ratatouille chain, but money isn’t everything. Yes, these are the most expensive chains in the world, but there are plenty of ways to grab inspiration from these celebrities without having to be filthy rich. 

You can give off Jay-Z vibes by investing in your own thick Cuban link gold chain. It may not be as big or heavy as Jay-Z’s, but, let’s be honest, do you really even want to walk around with 11 pounds on your neck all day? Look at some of your favorite chains and figure out how you can make this style your own within your budget. 

• Look for Unique Pieces
  

For anyone who gravitates to the unusual, you should be on the lookout for unique designs that you don’t see often. Jesus pieces and Egyptians symbols make great pendants, but they’re not particularly rare. Instead, try to seek out designs that match with your interests and personality, but which also grab people’s attention. 

Our iced-out emoji pendants can have that effect because they’re humorous and a piece of pop culture that everyone recognizes and identifies with. Plus, the diamonds add a dope lil’ pop of luxury.

• Customize Your Gold Chains
  

One of the best ways to create your own style with your wardrobe and accessories is to have your chains customized. This doesn’t mean you need to work with a super-expensive, artisan jeweler to get what you’re looking for. You can purchase chains from Frost NYC with the option to customize the length and width and add one of our many unique pendants for gold chains to make your piece entirely your own. If you want some pieces designed completely for you, you can fill out our custom request form and receive a quote on your specific design idea. 

Design Your Own Gold Chain & Pendant Set

Make Your Look Your Own

Some of our favorite and most successful artists are great to take inspiration from, but you want to be a dude who leads, not follows. Don’t worry about having the same chain as somebody else and, instead, embrace your own style and find pieces that show off your personality and enhance your wardrobe. 

When you shop our extensive collection at Frost NYC, you’ll discover unique pendants, iced-out men’s gold chains, and other great accessories like Rolex watches and chunky rings. Find a style that fits your personality and don’t be afraid to stand out. Let the world see the bomb-ass style that you have.